I think we could achieve the sales tax system now without rebuilding the entire law. Continue with an income tax, just make yearly net increases in savings, equities, bonds, house principle payments, etc tax deductible.
This would have the same effect of being a consumption tax, because all savings & investment would be tax deductible. The only benefit it would not capture is the simplified tax code. But it would avoid prebate checks and the almost inevitable result of having both a sales tax and an income tax.
I know the fair tax says get rid of income tax before adding sales tax, but that is not how the "compromise" in Washington works. Just look at Illinois: 1-2%/yr Property tax + 7-10% Sales tax + 5% Income tax. One of the many states in the country that "has it all". Now think, is the Federal gov't going to follow the Illinois & California example, or the Florida & Texas example (sales + property tax). Which do you think? Yeah, I know which one to place my bet on.